Make Life Less Hard - Question 3

On the job, you are often expected to keep your emotions under control. Act, don’t react. Don’t let others push your buttons. Don’t let a bias dictate your decision. Be deductive and logical. While all of this good advice has its place, there are also ‘red flag moments’ where listening to your emotion, that ‘check in your gut’, can keep you or a fellow officer safe.
   
In his article Red Flag Decision Making, Paul Naeger wrote, “If our brains come across something and categorizes it as a ‘red flag’ we will be notified through thoughts and feelings...This ‘red flag’ alerts us to pay attention.” On the job, paying attention to a ‘red flag’ could literally save your life.
   
In his book, Better Decisions Fewer Regrets, author Andy Stanley points out in everyday life we get these ‘red flags’ and they form a tension...a tension which deserves our attention. He suggests, “If something bothers you, let it bother you. Embrace it. Pay attention to the tension. What begins as an uneasy feeling is often supported later with reason. Information. Insight. But if you don’t pause, you won’t see it.” (Chapter 4)
   
This is one of the questions we should ask ourselves when making a decision, when trying to make a good decision that will make life less hard: Is there a tension that deserves my attention? If yes, don’t ignore it. Figure it out. Work it out or go another way...there’s a reason you got a ‘red flag’.
   
My prayer for you this week is for STRONG ‘red flags’ on the job that will warn you and keep you safe. May God’s supernatural protection watch over you. And in your everyday life, may you pay attention to the tension, make wise decisions and make life easier for yourself. 
   
Your service is appreciated,
 Pastor Rob

Thoughts and examples taken from Better Decisions, Fewer Regrets: 
5 Questions to Help You Determine Your Next Move by Andy Stanley 
I am giving away a copy of this book. If you would like to be entered in the drawing, go to the comment section here, leave your name and email and simply say, "I want to be in the book drawing".

Make Life Less Hard Series
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4. Part 5